Wright Studio's ginkgo tree getting extra attention these days

Chicago Tribune featured a story on Davey's care for the ginkgo tree on the property of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.

Published: April 24, 2014

By Wes Venteicher

Most visitors who approach the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park notice two things about the prominent ginkgo tree outside, said preservation architect Karen Sweeney: its size and its smell.

The tree, 51 inches in diameter, produces cherry-like fruit that emits the unmistakable smell of "dog poop," making it a subject of conversation for many visitors, Sweeney said.

In observance of Arbor Day, which is Friday, arborist Dan Krug recently hung a tag from the tree that tells visitors a little more about the pungent fixture of Wright's former yard.

The approximately 200-year-old tree, located in the home's east courtyard, is capable of absorbing more than 6,000 gallons of water and 1,200 pounds of carbon per year, Krug said. An air conditioner would require 225 kilowatt hours of electricity to produce the same cooling effect as the tree's thick canopy and the "transpiration" process by which it cycles water through itself, releasing moisture, he said.

He and other arborists have been tagging Chicago-area trees this week to increase awareness of their practical benefits, Krug said. The tag on the Wright ginkgo will be removed May 10, he said.